Port Adelaide’s win-loss rollercoaster comes to an end with back-to-back losses
Port Adelaide had hoped to bring an end to its infuriating win-loss run with victory over the Tigers but instead fell to back-to-back losses for the first time since Round 8.
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Port Adelaide is staring at a second consecutive season without finals after its remarkable run of alternate results was snapped by in-form Richmond at the MCG on Saturday.
The Power lost two games on the trot for the first time since rounds seven and eight, which sparked two months of yo-yo form where a loss was followed by a win, after crashing to a 38-point defeat to the in-form Tigers, who have now won four straight games to re-emerge as a premiership contender.
Port — playing without key injured trio Ollie Wines, Brad Ebert and Ryan Burton — battled hard for much of the game but its rollercoaster win-loss streak, which had stretched to nine and equalled its club record from 2005, was snapped the wrong way.
This has left it facing an uphill battle to feature in the finals for the first time since 2017.
Its loss — following last week’s shock eight-goal blowout to Brisbane at home — has put it in negative win-loss territory at 8-9 and left it sitting outside the top eight and looking in.
The Power simply must beat GWS at home next week to stay in the finals hunt.
With superstar Robbie Gray having no influence on proceedings, Port never really got going against the 2017 premier, which has overcome a horror injury run early in the season to look threatening.
Power coach Ken Hinkley’s outfit conceded the first three goals in the opening 13 minutes and struggled to bridge the gap.
It trailed by that margin at quarter-time and was outscored in every quarter, paying a heavy price for some shocking turnovers.
Tellingly, Richmond kicked 11.9 of its 15.11 from turnovers.
Brownlow Medallist Dustin Martin (30 disposals, eight inside 50s), key forward Tom Lynch (nine marks, 13 contested possessions, three goals) and playmaking backman Bachar Houli starred for Richmond while the vastly-improved Karl Amon played arguably his best game for the Power with 28 disposals and two goals.
Former captain Travis Boak and defender Matthew Broadbent also battled hard for Port.
FORWARD THINKING
Richmond’s strong key forward pairing of Jack Riewoldt and Lynch looms large in September.
The pair have only played five games together since Lynch’s much-heralded arrival from Gold Coast this season following an injury-plagued year by triple Coleman Medallist Riewoldt.
But with Riewoldt returning from injury against GWS last week and Lynch gathering pace after an injury-interrupted pre-season, they threaten to be big players for the 2017 premier in the finals.
Riewoldt and Lynch both booted three goals but Lynch could easily have bagged six.
The pair — fed by some good delivery from the midfield — proved too much for ace Power backmen Tom Jonas and Tom Clurey to handle.
They appear to be developing a good understanding, taking turns in playing close to goal or moving upfield.
With the Tigers not having to leave their home ground at the MCG again until at least the finals, the key forward pairing could be about to strike red-hot form.
HANDY CAM
A week after giving Cam Sutcliffe licence to controversially “terrorise’’ star Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale — a move that backfired spectacularly as the entire Port team took its eye off the ball — Hinkley resisted the temptation to try the same tactic against matchwinner Martin.
He instead employed former Docker Sutcliffe as a forward to try to shut down Richmond’s run and drive from defence.and the intercepting ability of Nick Vlastuin.
Sutcliffe, playing his second game for Port after being thrown an AFL lifeline in the mid-season rookie draft, restricted the strong-marking Vlastuin to just 13 disposals in the 80 minutes they were matched.
Sutcliffe didn’t win a lot of the ball himself, having nine disposals and kicking a goal, but he did manage to disrupt some of the Tigers’ forward movement from the back half in a strong response to what would have been a tough week for him following the controversy surrounding the Power’s tactics against his good mate Neale.
BROADY’S STRONG RETURN
Matthew Broadbent was one of Port’s feel-good stories at the MCG, shining in his first AFL game since taking a short break for mental health reasons.
Starting on the interchange bench but moving to half-back just five minutes into the opening term, the 28-year-old made an instant impact, having eight disposals and two rebound 50s for the quarter and linking up nicely with his defensive teammates.
He finished with 26 disposals and nine marks to be in the Power’s best players, although there was one costly third quarter turnover he would like back.
The popular Broadbent, playing his 166th game, had last played AFL in round 11 against St Kilda in China before taking a leave of absence to focus on his “wellbeing’’.
He had two weeks away from the club before returning in the SANFL and immediately starring in games against West Adelaide (25 disposals) and the Crows in Port Pirie, where he was best-afield with a whopping 38 possessions and 17 marks to demand an AFL recall.
“It’s a great story that he’s been able to recover,’’ Hinkley said before the game.
“His football since he’s been back has been absolutely first class.
“Broggsy’s always been an important member (of the team), we wrapped our arms around him, we gave him as much support as we could and he’s now back feeling happy and glad to be back out there playing with his teammates.’’
MOTLOP MAGIC MISSING
Steven Motlop continues to frustrate at Port Adelaide, with AFL great Wayne Carey declaring his good games are few and far between.
“We know he can play when he’s on, but when is he on?,’’ Carey asked on Triple M of a player with rare talent who simply does not deliver enough on a regular basis.
Former Cat Motlop entered the match averaging a modest 16 disposals in 13 games while kicking just seven goals for the season.
Tellingly, he had managed just four clearances for the season averaged only two inside 50s.
Motlop, who spent time in the SANFL early in the season, was largely inconspicuous against the Tigers, having 16 disposals but failing to score.
SCOREBOARD
RICHMOND 5.4 8.5 12.7 15.11 (101)
PORT 2.4 4.6 7.7 9.9 (63)
BEST — Richmond: Martin, Lynch, Houli, Grimes, Ellis, Prestia, Astbury. Port: Amon, Boak, Broadbent, Byrne-Jones, Lycett.
GOALS — Richmond: Lynch, Riewoldt 3, Prestia, Martin, Ellis, Edwards, Castagna, Graham, Chol, Soldo, Rioli. Port: Amon, Butters 2, Duursma, Dixon, Howard, Sutcliffe, Rockliff.
INJURIES — Port: Houston (concussion), Howard (ribs).
CROWD — 41,642 at the MCG.
UMPIRES — R. O’Gorman, R. Chamberlain, R. Findlay.
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